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The Libertarian Party Attacked Rand Paul, Libertarians Attacked Them Back

The Libertarian Party posted the above image on their Facebook page. The backlash they received in the comments was well deserved. Hundreds of people commented, and all of the top comments were people disgusted with the image. Fans called it “childish”, “idiotic”, and “shortsighted”. They’re right, and their comments received more likes than the post itself.

Their post was an utterly blatant smear. Nothing more. It’s shameful that the Libertarian Party attacked Rand Paul this way. Trying to put Rand Paul in the same category as Jeb Bush and Hillary Clinton is despicable. If they wanted to challenge Paul on his positions, that would be one thing. This is entirely different, and doesn’t set the example that libertarians expect from the Libertarian Party. They’re supposed to be the ‘Party of Principle’, not the Party of Pettiness.

It’s a rather pathetic attempt to discredit a man who’s done great things for liberty. Unlike the Bushs and Clintons, the Pauls are not tyrants or elitists. They don’t come from power, and don’t exert any. They’re humble men that have had, and will have, a lasting effect on liberty in this country.

To try and compare Rand Paul to Jeb Bush, or Hillary Clinton, is desperate. Unlike those two tarnished dynasties, the Paul name is respectable. Ron Paul has done more for libertarianism than the Libertarian Party has itself. Ron Paul is surely ashamed of the Libertarian Party for this baseless, and tasteless attack on his son. After all, at the heart of it it’s an attack on his name.

Furthermore, if the intention was to compare Rand Paul’s political beliefs to Bush’s or Clinton’s, that’s even more deplorable. No libertarian, even the most purist ones, would say that Paul’s beliefs are anywhere near comparable to Bush’s or Clinton’s. Those two are famously neo-conservative big government tyrants. Rand Paul is through and through a small government conservative, and libertarian. Even those who claim he isn’t libertarian enough don’t compare him to Bush or Clinton.

For the Libertarian Party to attempt to color him as a big government elitist running on his last name is a miserably inadequate smear. Libertarians know where candidates stand on the issues, and what their qualifications are. We don’t listen to these paltry attacks because they only come from the impetuous. It’s absolute desperation that drives these type of personal attacks, and libertarians see right through them.

It’s obvious that the Libertarian Party is afraid that libertarians will support Rand Paul in 2016. They should be afraid, because libertarians should support him. Attacks like these give us even more reason to.

Why would we vote for a party that attacks liberty lovers in such a detestable way? It makes the Libertarian Party look just like the other two they claim to hate so much. Worse in fact, because the Libertarian Party has yet to elect a candidate. These attacks make them look bitter, and jealous of the success libertarians are having in other political parties. So much for the ‘Party of Principle’ indeed, it appears the only progress they want libertarianism to have is that with their seal.

Libertarians will have to decide for themselves who to support in 2016. But none of us should support a party that uses disgraceful and hollow attacks like this. No libertarian should support a party that is narrow-mindedly trying to shrink the liberty movement, instead of trying to grow it.

You’re right on Ron. I read up on party platforms. That’s why I’m a Libertarian, NOT a rebloodlican or democrap. Those two f up’d parties voted to waste 85 BILLION on Afghanistan this yr,2015. If Ran wants to be associated with that party over our party then thats what he’s about and I ain’t voting for lame parties that Rob Americans and give it away oversees. Interesting how this article turns libs on libs and the author is a lib.

Even though heis registered as Republican, he is ashamed of his party, and the Democrats alike. They both work together to screw the American people over. He despises this and has givwn speeches as to why he despises this. Even if he’s not the perfect libertarian candidate, he is defending our liberties more than anyone on these debate stages. #StandWithRand

No, “the Libertarian Party” did not do this. Outright Libertarians, a caucus WITHIN the Libertarian Party, did it. Someone posted it to the Libertarian Party’s Facebook page and when it was brought to the attention of the party’s national staff and leadership, they removed it.

Nor is the Libertarian Party afraid that libertarians will support Rand Paul in 2016. He’s not a libertarian. He’s specifically SAID he’s not a libertarian and that he considers the label “an albatross.” Libertarians are about as likely to vote for Rand Paul as Mitch McConnell is to vote for Hillary Clinton.

Yes, the Libertarian Party did this. The original meme was posted by OutrightUSA, and someone with admin privileges re-posted it to the LP Facebook page as the LP. It was not posted by a random “someone,” nor was it an accident. So, YES, the LP did this.

Regardless what one thinks of Rand, comparing the Pauls to the Bushes and Clintons is just asinine. As for libertarians not voting for Rand…Not sure where YOU have been, the majority seem to be on board. But hey, you don’t have to vote for him, if you don’t want to. Sit on your purist high horse and cry, or go vote for whatever recycled Republican the LP offers this time around.

Better to vote for a former republican who has seen the light than a republican who is beholden to big money and not the people. I never waste a vote. I always vote for the best candidate. And that means I don’t care what party they are in. I only care if they understand, and have the integrity to enact, ONLY the proper role of libertarian government.

P.S. I like a lot of Rand’s positions. Though I would like to see ALL parties big and small in the debates. (Green Party, Libertarian, Socialist, etc). If you are on enough ballots to win, you should be in the debates. The debates should be like American Idol. Most popular candidates move forward.

Is this Seriously what Passes for an “Attack”, now..???? It reads like “No more Ruling Party, Statist Republican OR Democrats” to me.. Ron Paul was no “Libertarian”.. He was a Republican, period dot. Rand is No Different, he’s just as much a party of the One Big Government Party as Hillary and Jeb…

LOOK, as a Libertarian I agree with Rand Paul about 65% of the time. That’s about 60% more than all the democrat and republican presidential candidates combined.

My statement that I have been putting out is as follows: My wife and I will be switching over to vote for Rand in the primary and if the republican party cheats against Rand like they did his father I will be voting for the Libertarian candidate for president like I did in 2012!

It’s pretty clear that Ron and Rand worked together on this. Ron agreed not to pursue nomination at the convention (thus leaving his own delegates – thank goodness I didn’t get elected as one – in the dust), Rand endorsed Romney, and Rand got some Republican cred as a legitimate (to the mainstream) politician. Agree or disagree with their strategy, it is what it is.

OP, Sen. Rand Paul has stated he is not a libertarian, ridicules libertarians, holds anti-(civic) Libertarian positions (including one denouncing gay civil unions this week), and has his people attack the LP and LP candidates. The LP post is understandable in that light. Also, unless these people are running for the LP, it certainly can’t endorse them (Bush and Clinton, unlike Paul, have been very friendly to political Libertarians; Bush has appointed Libertarians into public office, while Paul tells people not to do that).

In any event, people like Rand Paul are bit players the extreme right is trying to sell as ‘Libertarian Icons’ with the help of the extreme left, IMHO. In contrast, I’ve been in the Libertarian movement since the 1940’s and it just grows and grows . For more on the larger world movement, see: http://www.libertarianinternational.org

[…] The Libertarian Party Attacked Rand Paul, Libertarians Attacked Back The Libertarian Party posted the above image on their Facebook page. The backlash they received in the comments was well deserved. A Libertarian Future […]

Calling Ron Paul evil is absolutely nonsensical. WHY would Libertarians hate the great Ron — for being a Republican, is that it? Is there any precedent for this in the Party that ran him for prez in 1988? To “compare Rand Paul to Jeb Bush or Hillary Clinton,” however, is long overdue and still way, WAY too rare as Rand races down the checklist as a neocon warmonger, totalitarian, establishment DEMOPUBLICAN, the works. He stinks, he’s absolutely awful. The good he does is good, but has to be mere strategic window dressing in view of the horrible, loathsome other 80% of him!

For anybody interested in saving what’s left of the white race — and I realize most reading this may not — see the White Renegade of the Year prize bestowed on lamby Randy by American Renaissance.

Kudos to this site, BTW, for not making us go through Orwellian Facebook, Google or other third party to post here! THANK YOU, A Libertarian Future.

The LIbertarian Party is the Party of principle. Rand is aganist most issues supported by the National Libertarian Party Like “pro choice”, cut military spending, equal Rights for gays, ending the Drug War etc.

Again with all due respect. I will not sacrifice my principles as a libertarian and vote for someone who represents another party. And to assume party affiliation means nothings. Then why remain a Republican? I’d give my vote to Gary Johnson before I would any Republican or Democrat. Even if Gary Johnson doesn’t run, I’d still vote for a libertarian on the ticket.

The LP better earn their dues by at least criticizing people like Rand in other parties. I’m becoming very confused what is meant here about a Libertarian future. There’s more ideological chance to sway the DNC than the RNC to libertarian principles.

It’s in fact good that the Libertarian Party tore into Rand Paul, he is not a Libertarian. He’s a Republican pandering to the values of Libertarian voters. He has no intention of stopping wars, legalizing marijauna, ending the spying or anything else. Rand endorsed Mitch McConnell for reelection over the Libertarian candidate in the most recent 2012 elections in Kentucky. Rand is a sell-out who will say anything to anybody at anytime.

Real registered Libertarians would rather vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party candidate.

Petty stuff like this is kinda half the reason I’m thinking of switching to unaffiliated or even starting my own party. There’s been a lot of things that bother me about the party, mostly the infighting from purists, the conspiracy theorists, and the party loyalists. A paradigm shift isn’t that simple, folks! 🙂

There’s a fun little thing my best friend taught me: “You lead by evolution, not revolution.” I’d like to see a free society like most of y’all, but not only are too many people scared of the idea right now, but realistically with the unfortunate amount of poor people, the people that hate us (Regardless if because of culture, ideology or even our policing), a sudden change (or even a revolution) would be a breeding ground for the desperate, opportunistic and our enemies.

There’s a reason people talk about steps instead of leaps. Rand might be an obvious right winger, but I seriously have much more faith in him winning and helping some of our issues, than for the hardcore “Libertarians against Rand” people to be able to change the country dramatically 😛

The Libertarian party itself is just plain terrible, has been for a long time. Just cause one claims to be Libertarian doesn’t mean they are a card carrying member. The party has no direction and hasn’t for as long as I can remember. Funny, years ago they went after Bob Barr who was in the GOP at the time, to get him out of congress….then he ends up as the LP candidate years later. He was very libertarian leaning as a GOP member but somehow they thought they should go after him as opposed to others in congress. same shit, different year

Rand supports amnesty for illegal border jumpers and the employers who exploit them for cheap slave wages…such a position goes against the libertarian party platform on immigration 3.4 and the US Constitution article 4 section 4…he may be a more tolerable republican but he is definitely NOT a Libertarian!…

In reading over the comments, I saw more agreement than disagreement…… coming from republicans, not Libertarians. The image got a ton of shares too. Republicans need to stop attacking the LP for not supporting a republican. I mean, its a political party, a race…its going to get dirty, especially since Rand does not support social freedoms, which is just as important as economic freedoms.

Curious as to why we are attacking libertarians for wanting a Libertarian candidate and not a Republican candidate to represent libertarians… Also a little confused as to why we are calling out of the Libertarian Party for making attacks against Rand Paul, but we seem perfectly okay with going after Hillary for Bush… Wouldn’t attacking them be tasteless as well by that logic?

Wow, there is a clear and great imbalance in what you see as unforgivable (allowing a post temporarily on their page by another group) compared to the republicans and democrats bankrupting/abusing the American political system.

You closed with, “But none of us should support a party that uses disgraceful and hollow attacks like this. No libertarian should support a party that is narrow-mindedly trying to shrink the liberty movement, instead of trying to grow it.”

None of us should give in to such absolutist talk. None of us should allow someone else to decide what all of us do.

“Rand Paul is through and through a small government conservative, and libertarian” Patently absurd. Rand Paul was nowhere near a libertarian and the last two years were an embarrassment to the legacy of his father. You are devaluating the philosophy of libertarianism by claiming Rand is a libertarian. He is not even a constitutional Republican.
While i generally hold no sympathy for the LP with the level of candidates they generally seem to have, your sycophancy for Rand by asking the denouncement of the LP shows you are not a libertarian either. You are worshiping idols rather than thinking about what is best for liberty. A real libertarian looks at what the best candidate is rather than being a fan boy. So the question inevitably is: did you even *know* who the candidates would be for the LP? No you didn’t, which means you traded principle and truth for the petulance of a broken hearted cheerleader.

[…] Anarcho-Capitalist memes. Once, they even were so foolish as to post an image declaring “No Bushes, Clintons, or Pauls“. It does not take a PR guru to tell you to not attack Ron Paul or Rand Paul, who are some of […]